New Kid in Town

West Side Grill is open for business and has brought new flavor
into Gilroy. With three small children, I have been long overdue
for a night out with my husband and some adult conversation. The
word around town that a new restaurant opened up where J.R.
Brewski’s used to be had us curious, so we decided to check it
out.
By Jane Dough

West Side Grill is open for business and has brought new flavor into Gilroy. With three small children, I have been long overdue for a night out with my husband and some adult conversation. The word around town that a new restaurant opened up where J.R. Brewski’s used to be had us curious, so we decided to check it out.

The consensus of our party – which included my husband and our longtime friends “Mr. and Mrs. C” – was that while the food at West Side Grill is fantastic, the service has some catching up to do.

We started with cocktails at the beautifully stocked full bar while waiting for our dining companions. I took a mental note to try the “Rob Zombie Martini,” a drink made with a special kind of liquer called Hypnotiq, the next time I visit.

While the bartender shook up my Lemon Drop, I noticed that the bar area, although half-full with early-bird snackers, was incredibly quiet, with no music. The calmness added to the family-friendly tone the new owners are trying to establish.

We closed out our tab and were seated at a small four-top, which, as the meal went on, became seemed increasingly too small. We thought it odd because there were plenty of spacious booths available, a few seated with only parties of two.

First to the table came a lovely basket of bread with salty katamala olives baked right in. We ordered an excellent bottle of Kali Hart pinot noir ($32) and tried to make room on the table for our menus, water glasses and other cocktails, still being nursed. Then our appetizers arrived, making the jigsaw of dishware even more comical.

The Steamed Clams ($12) were excellent in a white wine, butter and herb sauce, but the Breaded Crisp Calamari ($9) was pretty standard.

Our salads, which came with the meals, arrived promptly in beautiful mounds on the plates. Mine was a mixed baby green salad with balsamic dressing. The rest of my party ordered their salads with blue cheese dressing, and I was envious of all the chunks and crumbles on top.

Our entrees also arrived in a timely manner. We were disappointed to learn that the restaurant was out of prime rib on this quiet weeknight. I chose one of the house specialties, the Pan-seared Jumbo Sea Scallops ($21). They were perfectly seared in a citrus burr blanc that caramelized and browned the outside of the scallops while remaining rare in the middle. These jewels, which melted in my mouth, were paired with some creamy-dreamy chive whipped potatoes and spears of asparagus gently placed on top.

My husband’s 6-ounce, center-cut filet mignon and jumbo prawns ($25) made up for the absent prime rib. He offered me a bite. The filet was incredibly tender and juicy, and it is no accident that the prawns were labeled jumbo.

“Mrs. C.” ordered the Chicken and Artichoke Cannelloni ($15), prepared with asparagus, sweet corn sauce, Romano cheese and basil pesto. I definitely will be ordering this creamy and inventive dish on my next visit.

“Mr. C” had the Steak and Ribs, ($20), an 8-ounce tri-tip with a half-rack of St. Louis ribs that also earned high praise.

All entrees included a vegetable, your choice of potato, and soup or salad. The menu offered a variety of salads, pasta, steak and seafood. The restaurant also features a “family-style” dining option for parties of four or more. It includes a bruschetta starter, two salads, two entrees and a dessert sampler ($21 for adults, $11 for kids younger than 12).

The dessert menu has something for every type of sweet tooth. Our friends ordered a heavenly Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce ($6). It was warm and comforting with a smooth texture. I am a chocolate fanatic, but the flourless chocolate torte ($6) was so rich I could barely finish half. The few bites I did savor paired heavenly with my decaf cappuccino ($3). On my next visit, I plan to indulge in the warm cookie with vanilla gelato.

Our food was delicious, but the West Side Grill missed the mark on service. While our server was friendly and outgoing, most of the staff we encountered seemed very young and inexperienced. We should have been offered an adequately sized table, and after our entrees were served we were left on our own for quite a long time, as our water glasses sat empty until dessert. I’ll chalk it up to a new restaurant still ironing out the wrinkles.

‘Jane Dough’ was raised in Gilroy and returned after graduating from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She enjoys cooking, caring for her husband and three small children, and dining out every chance she gets. All reviews for The Dish are anonymous, and all meals are paid for by South Valley Newspapers.